Mimicking natural connections could improve rotator cuff repair News / September 3, 2026 Many rotator cuff repairs fail due to a variety of factors that could be solved by a new fix that imitates the body’s natural environment. Researchers have developed a “scaffold” that mimics natural tissue and could lead to more durable rotator cuff repairs, including for large injuries and cases involving... Read More
What Makes a Discovery Matter? News / November 14, 2025 A brilliant idea is just the beginning. But between the lab bench and the lives it could change, there’s often a wide and uncertain gap. Bridging that space takes more than good data, it takes a story that resonates beyond the research community. That’s what Practice Associate Professor Katie Reuther,... Read More
Engineering a Healthier Heart: Noor Momin Receives AHA Transformational Project Award News / July 17, 2025 When someone survives a heart attack, the battle isn’t always over. In fact, nearly one-third of survivors go on to develop heart failure—a progressive weakening of the heart muscle that affects millions and contributes to roughly 500,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Dr. Noor Momin, the Stephenson Foundation Term... Read More
Penn Engineers Turn Toxic Fungus into Anti-Cancer Drug News / June 26, 2025 by Ian Scheffler Penn-led researchers have turned a deadly fungus into a potent cancer-fighting compound. After isolating a new class of molecules from Aspergillus flavus, a toxic crop fungus linked to deaths in the excavations of ancient tombs, the researchers modified the chemicals and tested them against leukemia cells. The result? A... Read More
Researchers Crack the Code of Body’s Ancient Immune Defense News / June 20, 2025 How does your body distinguish friendly visitors, like medications and medical devices, from dangerous invaders such as viruses and other infectious agents? The answer lies in a protein network dating back half a billion years—before humans diverged from sea urchins, notes Jake Brenner, a physician-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. “The complement... Read More
Optogenetic Functional Profiling Indicates New Mechanisms of Drug Tolerance in Cancer Cells News / January 21, 2025 While modern cancer treatments can have tremendous therapeutic impact, formidable obstacles remain. Foremost among these is drug resistance, the ability of cancers to withstand and ultimately progress despite the presence of an anti-cancer drug. However, ongoing research provides hope that these challenges can be overcome, including recent work performed by... Read More
Loebel Lab Arrives in 2025 News / January 7, 2025 Reliance Industries Term Assistant Professor Claudia Loebel will establish her lab at The University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Bioengineering and the Center for Precision Engineering for Health in January 2025. Dr. Loebel received her MD from Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg, Germany and her Ph.D from ETH Zurich, Switzerland. “My... Read More
